Convertible hand tool



1951 s. G. BENHAM CONVERTIBLE HAND TOOL Filed June 8, 1950 INVENTORSPENCER 6. BEA/HAM. av. awk Z W MATTORNEY Patented Aug. 2i, 1951CONVERTIBLE HAND "rooL Spencer G. Benham, Brooklyn, N. Y. Lessie LeeBenham executrix of said Spencer G. Benham,

deceased Application June 8, 1950, Serial No. 166,796

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a convertible hand tool and moreparticularly to a device comprising a blade with a sharp edge andconvertible holding means adapted to hold the blade in position for useas an ordinary pocket knife or for use as a scraper.

An important object is to provide a novel and advantageous tool of thecharacter specified.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of thecharacter specified which is simple in structure, economical tomanufacture and efficient in operation.

In carrying out the invention use may be made of a single edge blade, ahandle, double ended jaws pivoted at an intermediate position andconstructed at one end to hold the blade in a posision longitudinal withrespect to said handle and at the other end to hold the blade in atransverse position, and means controlled by said handle to press saidjaws together at either end which is positioned to extend beyond the endof the handle. Preferably the blade is a single edge razor blade whichis of course very sharp and therefore adapted for use either as aknifeor a scraper.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear upon consideration ofthe following detailed description and of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of the tool showing the singleedge blade in position for use as a knife;

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation partly in section with the single edgeblade secured in position for use as a scraper;

Fig. 3 is a view from above of the tool as illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view from above of the tool as arranged in 2;

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-45 of Fig.2.

Referring to the drawings a single edge blade II] is gripped by means ofdouble-ended jaws II and I2 constituting a device in the nature of achuck. Said jaws II and I2 are pivoted at a position intermediate theirends by means of a stud or pin I3 extending from the member I2 into arecess I 4 in the member I I. At one end of the gripping devicecomprising the members II and I2, the member I I is 'provided with alongitudinal recess I5 into which the blade II is insertedlongitudinally with its inner end engaging a shoulder I6. Thecorresponding end of member I2 is provided with a projection I1 2adapted to enter the recess I 5 when not obstructed by the blade II].

It will be evident from the foregoing description that pressing theouter ends of the memhers I I and I2 together will grip the knifetherebetween. To press said members II and I2- together as illustratedin Fig. 1 use may be made of a split ring I8 (Figs. 3 and 4) having atapered threaded portion I9 at its inner end and a knurled portion 28 atthe other end. With the split ring I8 in this position a hollow handle2| with a corresponding inwardly-screw-threaded' open end, is screwedover the threaded inner end of said split ring I8 until the ring iscontracted enough to press corresponding ends of the members ordouble-ended jaws II and I2 together and grip the knife II] in fixedposition. Said handle 2! has a closed outer end and is of suificientlength to receive inside thereof blades II] when not in use.

When said blade I0 is to be used as a scraper, that is, transversely ofthe body of the tool, the end which is in the handle and out of use inFigure 1, is positioned at the forward end of the tool and the blade isset in a recess 22 in the jaw or member II against a shoulder 24 at theinner end of said recess. The other jaw I2 is provided at thecorresponding point with a projection 23 to engage the knife and grip itin said recess 22. The split rin I8 having previously been placed overthe jaws or members I I and I2 at the outer end of the assembly (Fig.2), the handle H is screwed. on said split ring I 8 until the jawsholding the blade I 0 grip the same firmly.

Of course the two members or jaws II and I2 may be pivoted in adifferent manner but the pin and recess connection holds the jaws ormembers Ii and I2 against lengthwise movement and lateral movementrelative to each other. Preferably said jaws I I and I2 are made ofplastic material. Obviously the jaws may be changed without change ineffect. For exampl the projection 23, Fig. 1, might be placed on memberI I and the member I2 provided with a recess 22.

It will be evident that the tool as arranged in Figs. 1 and 2 willfurnish an effective knife or scraper for ordinary service, the bladebeing of sharp hard steel so that it will remain sharp for aconsiderable period.

A great advantage of the tool of the present invention is that the jawsII and I2 are pressed together close to the position of the blade to beclamped.

It should be understood that various changes may be made and thatcertain features may be used without others without departing from thetrue scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a blade having a longitudinal cutting edge with adevice for holding said blade comprising an assembly of two doubleendedjaws pivoted on each other at an intermediate point, a handle having atubular end to receive either end of said assembly and means operated bysaid handle for pressing the outer ends of said jaws together to gripsaid blade therebetween.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein at one end of the saidasembly doubleended jaws one of said jaws has a recess to receivelongitudinally one end of said blade and the other jaw has a projectionto enter said recess and grip said blade therein.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein at the other end of saidassemblage of double-ended jaws one of them is provided with a recessterminating in a transverse shoulder to locate said blade transverse ofsaid handle with its edge beyond the outer ends of said jaws and theother jaw is provided with a projection to engage said blade and hold itin position in said recess.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said means for pressingsaid jaws together comprises a split ring to be placed over either endof the two jaws, said ring having a tapered external screw thread, andsaid handle having a correspondingly tapered internal screw thread.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the pivoting of saidjaws is effected by means of a pin projecting from one jaw and ex-'tending into a recess in the other.

6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said blade is asingle-edge blade and said cutting edge is straight.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said means for pressingsaid jaws together comprises a sleeve with a longitudinal slit to beplaced over either end of the two jaws, said sleeve having a taperedinternal screw thread at one end and a knurled portion at the other end,and said handle having a correspondingly tapered internal screw thread.

8. The combination according to claim 1 wherein at one end of theassembly of doubleended jaws one of said jaws is provided with means tohold one end of said blade longitudinally of the jaw and the other jawis shaped to engage said blade and press it against said first mentionedjaw.

SPENCER G. BENHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,308,162 Frank Jan. 12, 19432,482,385 Urban et a1 Sept. 20, 1949

